Prison officials say Ukraine's jailed opposition leader, Yulia Tymoshenko, is being held in a prison cell under 24-hour camera surveillance with the lights permanently on.
Ivan Pervushkin, head of the prison in Kharkiv, told journalists in televised comments on January 3 that "Video surveillance is not forbidden by law."
In order to carry out permanent video monitoring, there has to be sufficient light in the cells," he said.
Tymoshenko’s lawyer, Serhiy Vlasenko, deplored what he described as "inhumane conditions" in Tymoshenko's quarters.
He said that "the light is directed straight onto the bed where she is lying," making it "impossible" for her to sleep.
Vlasenko said this kind of treatment “will be the subject of an appeal to the Council of Europe's Committee for the Prevention of Torture.”
Tymoshenko was sentenced in October to seven years in jail for abuse of office.
The United States and the European Union have denounced her trial as politically-motivated.
On December 30, Tymoshenko was moved from a jail in Kyiv to a prison camp in the eastern town of Kharkiv.
Reuters
Ivan Pervushkin, head of the prison in Kharkiv, told journalists in televised comments on January 3 that "Video surveillance is not forbidden by law."
In order to carry out permanent video monitoring, there has to be sufficient light in the cells," he said.
Tymoshenko’s lawyer, Serhiy Vlasenko, deplored what he described as "inhumane conditions" in Tymoshenko's quarters.
He said that "the light is directed straight onto the bed where she is lying," making it "impossible" for her to sleep.
Vlasenko said this kind of treatment “will be the subject of an appeal to the Council of Europe's Committee for the Prevention of Torture.”
Tymoshenko was sentenced in October to seven years in jail for abuse of office.
The United States and the European Union have denounced her trial as politically-motivated.
On December 30, Tymoshenko was moved from a jail in Kyiv to a prison camp in the eastern town of Kharkiv.
Reuters
